Jonah’s head lowered.
“I was a coward,” Randall said. “Just not in the way they think.”
He wiped at his eyes.
“I was afraid if I saw Meryl, I would choose one more day with her over whatever chance she had without me.”
I closed my eyes.
“So I made the choice while I still could.”
His voice weakened.
“I am not asking her to forgive it.”
The fan clicked behind us.
“I need that said clearly, Wade. If you show her these, don’t turn me into a saint because I’m dead. Dead men get too much editing.”
Wade let out a broken laugh.
Randall continued. “What I did was cruel. It was controlling. I knew it would hurt her, and I did it anyway because I believed the alternative could kill her.”
He paused.
“Love was part of it.”
Another breath.
“Fear was part of it.”
